Potato-miller



(No Mariel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. 0, SOHWINGEL'.

POTATO HILLBR No. 551,513. Pented Dec. 17, 1895.,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

E. G. SGHWINGEL.

POTATO HILLER.

N0. 551,513. Patented Dec. 17, 1895.

p WIZWESSES: I 1.7V YEA 2'03. 1/ 4Q gdawvge ANDRLW 9 GRAHAM. PHOTOUTHRWASRIMGTOQLDL (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

'13. 0; SGHWINGEL.

POTATO KILLER.

No. 551,513. Patented Dec. 17, 1895.

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PATENT EDXVARD C. SCHYVINGEL, OF DANSVILLE, NElV YORK.

POTATO- HILLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,513, dated December '7, 89

Application filed March 16,1895.

To all whom it Hwy concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. ScHwnvcEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dansville, in the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Hillers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for forming furrows for planting potatoes and which may be converted into coverers or hillers; and its object is to provide an improved construction of the same which shall possess superior advantages with respect to efficiency in operation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the machine used for-forming furrows. Fig. 2 is a similar view of one of the forks with the shovel removed and a disk substituted therefor, as when the machine is employed as a coverer. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. '1. is a longitudinal section, the seat, wheels, and hangers being removed as when the machine is used for hilling potatoes. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation, and Figs. 7, S, and 9 are detail views. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view showing the toothed arm for depressing the swinging frame and the bracketand pin for holding the arm in place.

In the said drawings, the reference-1u1m eral 1 designates a rectangular frame provided with a tongue 2 and at each end with brackets 3, to which are journaled the wheels at. Located within this frame is a swinging frame, consisting of front and rear transverse bars 5 and 6 and side bars 7, which are preferably of gas-pipe. The ends of the front bar 5 are formed with studs 8, which are journaled in adjustable brackets 9, secured to the sidebars of frame 1. The rear ends of these brackets are pivoted to said bars and near their front ends are formed with slots 10, with which ensmn in. 541,982. was.)

gage bolts 12, for securing them in their adjusted positions. Secured to the rear transverse bar 6 is a collar 13, provided with lugs 14, to which is pivoted an upwardly-erctending bar 15, provided with teeth 16, and its upper end is bent outwardly at a right angle, forming a foot-piece 17 by which the swinging frame can be depressed. This bar passes through a bracket 18, provided with a pin 19, with which the teeth engage. A spring 20 is secured to said bracket for pressing the teeth into engagement with the said pin. Secured to the rear cross-bar of the frame 1 is a bracket 21, formed at each end with two lugs 23, through which pass pins 21.

The numeral designates a bent spring upon which is mounted a seat 26. The ends of this spring are formed into loops which ongage with said pins. Also secured to the said rear cross-bar is a hook 27, with which is connected one end of a chain 29, which passes over a pulley 30, secured to the tongue. The other end of this chain is secured to a lever 31, pivoted to the tongue.

The numeral 32 designates a segment-rack with which engages a pin 3 L carried by a block 35. This block is provided with a slot 36, through which passes a headed screw 37. This block. is connected with a crank-lever 38 by means of a rod 39, and is also provided with a lug 40, between which and a lug 41 on the lever 31 is confined a coiled spring 32, the tendency of which is to press the block downward and cause its pin 34; to engage with the teeth of the segment-rack. By pulling the lever 31 backward the rear cross-bar of the frame with which the chain is connected will be elevated, the front crossbar turning on the bearings secured to the frame 1. Connected with said bars 6 and 7 are laterally-adjustable cross-heads 42, formed with hubs 43, through which pass shafts 1-5 of forks 46, which carry the removable and interchangeable shovels and covering-disks hereinafter described. -The said cross-heads at each end are proiiided with a 7 lug 4:7, against which abut theiinner ends of clamping-plates 48, which are held in place IOO segments 51, with which are adapted to engage levers 52, pivoted in slots in arms 53, se cured to the shafts of the forks. Springs 54: serve to throw the said levers into engagement with the racks.

The numeral 56 designates the furrowingshovels, which may be of any ordinary construction and are provided with standards 57, the upper ends of which are provided with lugs 58, which engage with the edges of the forks. The standards are formed with. holes, through which pass shafts 60, which also serve as axles for the covering-disks when the latter are substituted for the shovels.

Pivoted to the front of frame 1 are two laterally-extending arms Cl, having gages 62 pivoted to their outer ends which travel in the furrows. Brackets 63 secured to the front of frame 1 support the arms 61. Secured to said arms 61 are cords or ropes (it, the opposite ends of which are secured to a lug (55 on the lever 51, so that when said lever is operated to elevate the swinging frame the arms and gages will also be elevated or raised out of the way.

The numeral 65 designates the coveringdisks which are connected with the forks when the shovels are removed. This disk is a circular concavo-convex plate of metal provided with a central hole for the passage of a hub 0'7, having a flange 68 which is bolted to the disk. The axles or shafts 60 of the forks pass through these hubs.

The operation is as follows: The shovels are secured to the forks and the gages set in place and the machine drawn across a field, the shovel forming the furrows for the potatoes. After the latter have been planted, the gages and shovels are removed and the disks connected with the forks. If the machine is now pulled over the field the disks will turn the earth over upon and cover the potatoes. The proper angle can be given to the disks b y turning the arms of the shafts of the forks. For hilling potatoes the seat, the wheels, and their brackets are removed and a handle 09 secured to the frame 1. This handle consists of a transverse bar provided at each end with arms 70, which are pivoted to the sides of the frame. Near their lower ends these arms are provided with segments 71, formed with a number of holes 72 to receive pins 73 by which the inclination of the same can be adjusted. In this form the operator walks behind the machine and guides the same by the handle.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with the rectangular frame, of the swinging frame comprising the front and rear transverse bars and the side bars, the studs on the ends of the front transverse bar, th e laterally adjustable cross heads, the forks and the shafts j ournaled in said cross heads, the rack bar pivotally connected with the rear transverse bar, the bracket through which it passes provided with a pin,

the chain secured to said bar, the pulley over which it passes, the pivoted lever, its slidable block and pin, the connecting rod and crank lever, the segment rack and the coiled spring for actuating said block and pin, substan tially as described.

2. The combination with the rectangular frame, the swinging frame journaled therein, and the laterally adjustable cross heads, provided with segment racks, of the shafts jour naled to said cross heads, the arms secured thereto, the forks, the disks journaled thereto, the arms secured to the upper ends of said shafts, the levers pivoted to said arms and the springs secured to said arms and bearing upon the levers substantially as described.

3. The combination with the rectangular frame and the swinging frame journaled therein, of the laterally adjustable cross heads, the shafts and forks j our-naled therein, the shovels the standards to which they are secured provided with holes intermediate their ends and with lugs at their upper ends and the shafts passing through said holes, substantially as described.

l. The combination with the rectangular frame, the swinging frame journaled therein, the laterally adjustable cross heads, the forks, and the shovels, of the arms pivoted to said rectangular frame, the gages pivoted to the ends thereof, the cords secured to said arms, the lever pivoted to said rectangular frame to which said cords are also secured, the chain connected with said lever and with the swinging frame, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the rectangular frame and the swinging frame journaled therein of the laterally adjustable cross heads, the rotatable shafts journaled therein, the forks the disks journaled thereto, the lever and chain for elevating said swinging frame, the removable brackets and wheels and the removable seat, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the rectangular frame, the swinging frame j ournaled therein, the laterally adjustable cross heads,the shafts journaled therein and the forks, of the concave-convex disks, the hubs having flanges to which said disks are secured and the axles passing therethrough, substantially as described.

7. The combination pith the rectangular frame, the slotted bearings secured thereto and the bolts passing through said slots, of 

